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The Internship Program at Plimoth Plantation

How can history change YOU?

Plan a garden with heirloom and native plants, design an educational program about archaeology, learn the art of marketing a living history museum, play 17th-century games with summer campers, help us make collections accessible online ... the possibilities are endless.

We are looking for enthusiastic, team-oriented young people with an interest in America’s early histories who want to share in the day-to-day work of one of our nation's most important living museums. Plimoth Plantation's interns enjoy an intensive experience as diverse as the Museum itself centered on immersive, hands-on fieldwork. Interns also participate in a collaborative group project, enjoy field trips, and engage in unique professional development opportunities.

“It was such a life changing experience for me. I had the opportunity to curate my first exhibit with a fellow intern… made lasting friendships, and learned so much about museums" - Amanda Morgida (Smith College)

"I think my internship at the mill was really what pushed that initial passion into full blown ecstasy. I couldn't wait to show up with my field guides and natural history notes and get back to exploring the area and identifying plants. This internship helped me prove to myself that this really was what I was put on earth to do…" - Ian Spellman (Bridgewater State University)

Summer 2018 internship session (June 11 - August 10, 2018)

Full-time (35 hours/week) and part-time (up to 28 hours/week) internships are available for the summer internship session. Unless otherwise noted, internship are unpaid. Academic credit is available for all internships.

To apply for the Internship Program at Plimoth Plantation, please submit an online application no later than March 31, 2018. Questions about the Plimoth Plantation Internship Program can be directed to interns@plimoth.org.

Archaeology Collections Internship

For 70 years, Plimoth Plantation has played key roles in the field of archaeological research and hosts one of the largest repositories of early colonial archaeological material in New England. Our collections are the basis for several foundational texts in historical archaeology and are regularly used for study, reproduction, and exhibition. The Archaeology Collections intern will play a key role in making theses collections accessible online for researchers, teachers and the Museum’s guests. The intern will help to catalogue our extensive collection of Native and colonial archaeological artifacts while also assisting with facilitating and developing archaeology-related programs and exhibits.

The Archaeology Collections internship offers advanced undergraduate or graduate archaeology students experience cataloging and analyzing archaeological collections, helping with exhibit design, and developing public programs relating to archaeology. The intern will gain valuable experience working across departments with our Curator of Collections, Deputy Director of Media, Design & Collections, and Director of Wampanoag and Algonkian Performance, Research, & Interpretive Training.

Responsibilities

Works with the Curator of Collections and Director of Wampanoag and Algonkian Performance, Research, & Interpretive Training to digitally catalog and photograph archaeological artifacts from Native- and colonial-period sites. This includes cataloguing and photographing artifacts, and creating 3D images using Agisoft PhotoScan.

Collaborates with the Curator of Collections and relevant Museum staff to develop and execute archaeology-related public programs. This will include working directly with guests of all ages and backgrounds.

Qualifications

Ideal candidate is a bright, self-motivated advanced undergraduate or graduate student with attention to detail and experience working with Native and/or historical archaeological artifacts, either in a field school or laboratory setting. They should be open to exploring the intersection of technology and archaeology to make the Museum’s collections available online. Experience with collections software not required, but is preferred. Experience with formal or informal educational settings is a plus! The ability to work independently is crucial to the successful completion of this internship.

Museum Education Internship

Plimoth Plantation is looking for dynamic, team-oriented interns passionate about public history, museum education, museum studies, primary or secondary education, social studies, Native American studies, or anthropology to assist with planning, developing and implementing educational programs for children and teenagers. All interns will engage directly with the children enrolled in our weeklong summer camps. These programs involve indoor and outdoor programming at the museum’s main campus, at the Plimoth Grist Mill, and in downtown Plymouth. Interns will apply academic knowledge of education, museums, history or culture to plan, develop and implement Plimoth Plantation’s diverse camp programs. Interns will also develop an individual project in consultation with museum staff. Education Department staff will provide interns with mentorship, guidance, oversight and support.

Responsibilities

Identify individual projects and personal focus for internship.

Become familiar with and use the museum’s diverse resources.

Participate in planning: identify goals for the program and develop the activities and schedule accordingly.

Preparation: learn required skills and information for the programs, identify and gather required supplies, set up spaces.

Presentation: assist in all program activities; lead some activities; interact with the children; ensure the children are safe, comfortable and enjoying the program; clean up and reset spaces.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated interest in teaching and education in formal and informal settings as well as knowledge of or interest in education, early American history, 17th-century history, Native culture, anthropology, archaeology, museum education or museum operations. Candidates should be able and willing to lead group programs and manage groups of children, have excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to learn collaboratively as part of a team. Physical ability to perform some light lifting, to lead active programs (such as 17th-Century Games or Colonial Dance) and to work outdoors is a must!

Public Programs Internship

Plimoth Plantation is looking for dynamic, team-oriented interns to assist with the planning and execution of public programs at one of the Nation’s premier living museums. This internship is ideal for students looking to engage regularly with Museum guests and experience first-hand how public programs are developed, planned, and executed in our unique museum setting.Plimoth Plantation offers a variety of public programs throughout the year, including special events, large festivals, holiday programs, our popular lunchtime lecture series, and the new Plimoth After Dark evening series. The Public Programs Intern will assist the Public Programs Manager and Director of Museum Programs & School Services with all aspects of program planning and facilitation including but not limited to attending planning meetings, preparing materials, assisting with day-of program needs, and participating in the program evaluation. Guided by the Internship Program Coordinator and the Public Programs Manager, the intern will also develop an original museum program for the 2018 season.

Responsibilities

Assist with development of content and resources for large-scale public programs including Plymouth Bay Arts Festival, Archaeology Month, and Plimoth in December.

Participate in all aspects of facilitating public programs including materials preparation, working with a variety of museum audiences, and program evaluation

Research, develop, prototype and evaluation an original Museum program

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will demonstrate an interest in engaging museum guests in new and innovative ways, as well as early American history, Native culture and history, anthropology, material culture, social studies, and/or museum education. The candidate will have excellent writing, organizational, and communication skills, the ability to take direction and work independently, a willingness to work as part of a team, and the physical ability to perform light-to-moderate lifting and work in small spaces, both indoors and outdoors. Some evening or weekend work may be required.

Historical Horticulture Internship

Historical Horticulture interns work alongside the Curator of Museum Gardens and Horticulture staff to gain an inside knowledge of how gardens and landscapes are planned, interpreted, and maintained in Plimoth Plantation’s unique Living History Exhibits. Interns will work alongside staff in the exhibits and behind the scenes to learn about 17th – century Native and Colonial plant species and gardening techniques and theories, as well as hone their 21st-century horticultural skills. Interns may also have the opportunity to participate in horticulture-related educational programs and special projects under the supervision of the Curator of Museum Gardens.

Responsibilities

Assist with daily maintenance of gardens in the Living History Exhibits including but not limited to planting, pruning, weeding, watering, organic fertilizing, propagating, plant identification, and historic and modern plant usage;

Engage and educate Museum guests about the plants and horticultural practices used historically by English colonists and Native Wampanoag communities;

Assist the Curator of Museum Gardens with horticulture-related educational programs and special projects.

Qualifications

The Historical Horticulture position is ideal for students who are studying horticulture, agriculture, botany, and/or public history. The successful candidate will have some experience in horticulture or a related field. A basic understanding of gardening techniques and terminology is preferred, but not required. Candidates should have a willingness to learn through participation and by asking questions to deepen understanding as well as an outgoing personality with good communication skills. Please note that this position requires working outdoors in a wide variety of weather conditions; the ability to climb, lift, carry, stoop, and stand for extended periods of time; and requires a degree of physical strength (lifting up to 50 lbs.). An interest in early colonial New England and/or historical horticulture a plus!

Historic Clothing & Textiles Internship

Reproducing historically accurate clothing in a museum setting encompasses a multitude of skills and processes, including research and development, use of period and modern construction techniques, as well as sharing this knowledge and skill with our guests who visit Plimoth Plantation.

The Historical Clothing and Textiles: Wardrobe Production intern will learn, practice and apply the steps involved in reproducing period clothing for a living history museum. This will include historical research with access to departmental and museum libraries, pattern drafting, period construction techniques, and 17th-century accessories or trims (thread-wrapped buttons, card woven trim, hat making, etc.). They will also experience the unique workings of a wardrobe shop in a museum environment. This internship reports to the Manager of Historic Clothing & Textiles.

Responsibilities

Learn to construct and garments from individual measurements to final fitting and finishing with guidance from Historic Clothing & Textiles Manager;

Shadow Textile Artisans exhibiting in the Craft Center;

Conduct historical research with guidance from Historic Clothing & Textiles Manager to develop and complete an independent project;

Native American Studies Internship

Since 1973, Plimoth Plantation has led the public history field with its groundbreaking Native American Studies program which combines thorough historical and cultural research with innovative programs onsite, online and in classrooms. Native American Studies Interns build an in-depth understanding of the Native experience c.1600-1692 by assisting with a wide-range of research projects and engaging with guests on the Living History sites. This includes working alongside staff on the Wampanoag Homesite to interpret Native cultures using the Museum’s extensive collection of original, reproduction and archaeological artifacts as well as reconstructed landscapes. They hone their research and writing skills, practice delivering interpretive programs to the visiting public, and experience the process of researching and developing guest-focused living history exhibits.

Responsibilities

Conduct research on the 17th - century Native experience under the direction of the Museum’s Director of Wampanoag and Algonkin Performance, Research and Interpretive Training

Draft preliminary research summaries for use in developing new educational programs and staff training

Engage and educate Museum guests about native history and life-ways in the Living History Exhibits

Qualifications

The Native American Studies intern should have a background or demonstrated interest in Native Studies, American history, colonial history, anthropology, material culture, and/or public history. The ability to work independently on focused projects and with our guests alongside Museum staff on the Living History sites is crucial to the successful completion of this internship. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills as well as be familiar with research and historical writing techniques and have demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Apps, Scanners, and other cataloguing tools. All interns work in many kinds of weather conditions.

Catering Internship

Plimoth Plantation’s Catering Internship offers students with an interest in the hospitality industry, cultural event planning, business management, non-profits and/or museum programming the opportunity to learn how special events & catering services function in a museum setting. Interns discover first-hand many unique ways the catering department supports the Museum’s educational mission and how the catering business is affected by the Museum’s operation. Assisting catering department staff, interns will experience the day-to-day running of the catering department including communication, financials, operations, and various catering department events.

Responsibilities

Observe events with the Operations Manager and Sales Manager (weddings, group tours meals, other) and help identify areas to make the guest experience better while maintaining the museum’s standards

Learn about the flow of information and finances by working with the Catering Administrator and General Manager

Assist with updating the catering operation’s web presence by identifying sites that list our business and updating the information to coordinate the new catering brand being introduced in 2018

Qualifications

The catering department position is ideal for students who are studying hospitality or museum/public management with a strong interest in the event world and working with contracted partners.Please note that this position requires working some nights and weekends.

The successful candidate will have:

An interest in event / foodservice management and also history and non-profit operations

Some experience in event operations / food service (having worked as a server would be acceptable)

Proficiency with computers, including being comfortable with data entry, searching the internet, editing a website, using email, word processing, etc.

A willingness to learn through participation and by asking questions to deepen understanding;

An outgoing personality with good communication skills;

The ability to climb, lift, carry, stoop, and stand for extended periods of time;

An interest in early colonial New England and/or historical food a plus!

Work Schedule

Full-time (35 hours/week) and art-time (minimum of 21 hours/week) internships are available with flexible hours and days. This internship is paid.

My internship in Historic Clothing and Textiles allowed me to bring my education into a real world setting. The projects I worked on while in wardrobe enhanced the skills I gained at Dalhousie University. Additionally the experience I gained working in a wardrobe shop (repairs, laundry, pressing etc) contributed to my employment in the wardrobe department of Cirque du Soleil following the end of the internship. Plimoth Plantation was an excellent spring board for my future career and I am very thankful for having spent such a wonderful summer south of the border." -Melinda Moynihan (Dalhousie University)

My internship at Plimoth Plantation not only gave me international experience (I came over from the UK) but practice carrying out consultancy style ethnographic projects. I was able to directly apply the skills I had learnt through my Social Anthropology degree at the London School of Economics. It inspired me to begin searching for jobs in visitor analysis ... which I believe is a direct result of the responsibilities I was given, and lessons I learned at Plimoth Plantation." - Amelia Mulcahey (London School of Economics)

Internship Program Contact Information

Questions about the Plimoth Plantation Internship Program can be directed to Hilary Goodnow via email at interns@plimoth.org or by calling (508) 746-1622 ext 8287​